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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Happy Holidays!

While some of you are experiencing a magical White Christmas, we are enjoying a decidedly tropical one. And although I'm sure I would love to be walking in a winter wonderland, all furry collars and earmuffs, I am quite content with these sunny skies, strappy tops, and a particular pair of bronze-y Brazilian flip-flops that made their way to my Christmas loot.

In keeping with the season (climate-wise), here in my corner of the world, I decided to forgo tradition and nix the pine tree this year. Instead, I bought a fabulous palm at our local market, draped it with these cool weaved-twine-ball lights I found in Bangkok, and decorated it with shells I found on an island in Bicol that we visited last month. It looks like a Christmas tree from some shipwrecked island and I love it. I scattered shells and Christmas balls around the house and used halved coconut husks for candle holders.

Most of my free time saw me stirring a big pot of bubbling Spiced Apple Chutney -- my Christmas gift this year. Though the flat smelled of it for days, it was well worth it to be able to hand over something homemade this year. And the hours it took to peel kilos of apples and coax them into chutney made for a lot of reflection time.

Though this season had its share of tough times, it was also all the more special for it. Moments with family seemed more precious, rituals more meaningful, and old squabbles put aside.

Now to make up for the absence of a white Christmas, we will be off to the beach to celebrate the New Year. I'll be back in January of a shiny new 2008 to open the next round of Hay Hay it's Donna Day! Until then, from my tropical islands to your home, wherever you hail, I hope you are having a memorable and meaningful holiday season full of love and hope!

38 comments:

Katrina
said...

I love improvised, personalized Christmas trees, and yours looks so YOU! :-) Years ago, I made a "tree" out of purple twine, cable wire, twist-ties, and my telephone table. It was so cool that I was loath to take it down, so it made it to the next Christmas!

I'm sure it'll be a fun White (Sand) New Year's Eve in Boracay -- nearly all my friends will be there, too, so the island will be hopping! See you when you get back! :-)

Aww your tree looks lovely! So tropical and so festive. I can't believe I didn't get a chance to see you before the year ends. But anyway, I know you'll have a blast in Bora and I'll definitely see you in 2008! :) Happy new year, Jo! Mwah!

Hi Katrina! Thank you! I SO know what you mean...I don't want to take mine down either because it always makes me smile when I see it in the morning :) I'm thinking of saving it for a few New Year's parties still...what do you think? ;) The good part though is that even when I eventually take down the decor, I now have a plant to add life to our place :)

beautiful Christmas decorations. I was back in Slovakia for Christmas and finally got a chance to try the jalapeno raisin pickle me and my dad made in summer. Aaaah, was it wonderful. Sweet and sour and spicy, really great. we decided to pickle a lot more next year. How did yours turn out ?

Happy Holidays! This was my first year of giving out edible gifts (I made pomegrante jelly, mango chutney, pear jam, and orange marmalade) and I had so much fun. Your gifts sound divine and I loove your tree! :)

Hi Santos! It irks me too how commercialized Christmas has got over here...as soon as the 'ber months start the carols start at the malls...everyone is on "buy-buy-buy!" mode and craziness ensues! Hope your holiday was merry too and thanks for the compliment on the tree...I was quite proud of going native this year :) The decorations are still up by the way...one of these days...siiigh!